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NORTHWEST PASSAGE: THE AMUNDSEN ROUTEJuly
16 - August 3, 2007
The
Arctic – a huge frozen ocean surrounded by wild and beautiful land – is one
of the last frontiers on earth. Few people have traveled to this pristine
wilderness and even fewer have explored its remote seas and coastal areas by
ship. Quark Expeditions is therefore delighted to be able to offer this
outstanding program of adventures on top of the world aboard the polar
icebreaker ‘Kapitan Khlebnikov’. The
Arctic comes alive for just a few short months each year. Summer arrives with a
rush, bringing warmth and almost continuous daylight, along with a rich
collection of wildlife. Polar bears, musk ox, walrus, ringed seals, bearded
seals, belugas, narwhal, killer whales, bowhead whales, wildfowl, waders and
seabirds are just some of the animals that take advantage of the brief abundance
of food in the otherworldly landscapes of the far north. The region is also home
to small numbers of people who, against all the odds, have thrived and developed
some of the hardiest societies on the planet. Only
a powerful icebreaker like the ‘Kapitan Khlebnikov’ can travel to such
remote corners of the Arctic. We marvel as the ‘Khlebnikov’
breaks through ice up to five meters thick; land by expertly-piloted
helicopter in the most inaccessible areas imaginable; discover important
historic sites; visit isolated communities rarely visited before; and enjoy a
wealth of unique and fascinating wildlife. The
quest for the Northwest Passage, connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific
through North America’s Arctic, was an obsession of countless adventurers from
the 16th century onward. But it wasn’t until the voyage of Roald Amundsen 100
years ago that the dream became a reality. Tracing the spectacular route of
Amundsen, we embark on a journey through the wilds that still yields a
gratifying sense of achievement. Day 1 The expedition begins in Anchorage, Alaska, which is served by flights
arriving from the continental United States, Canada and Asia. You may arrive at
any time during Day 1 of the expedition. The transfer from the airport to the host hotel will take about five
minutes and should cost nothing, if you use the hotel shuttle. You spend the
night at the Millennium Hotel. At the hotel, please register with the front desk. Note that your room
may not be available for occupancy until mid-afternoon. You may store your
luggage and explore the community should you arrive early. Downtown Anchorage is a short taxi ride from the hotel, which also
operates a regular shuttle service. The compact city center has a number of fine
restaurants and shops. Day 2
After breakfast at your
hotel, you will be transferred as a group to the airport for the flight to Nome,
where you board one of our charters flights to Providenia, Russia. Have your
identification in your hand. You will need it to board the plane. En route you will cross the
International Dateline, which means that you lose a day. In Providenia, you will be
ferried to the icebreaker either by Zodiac or helicopter depending on the
weather conditions. Once on board, the Expedition Team will direct you to the
lounge, for a safety briefing. Emergency procedures are explained then followed
by a practical demonstration. One of the enclosed lifeboats may be lowered to
give you the opportunity to see what is within and how you would survive in the
unlikely event of an emergency at sea. When the Russian authorities complete immigration, customs and other
procedures, the lines are cast off, a salute is sounded on the foghorn, and the
voyage into the Bering Strait begins. Although our style is distinctly informal, there may be one or two
occasions during this expedition when you choose to wear something a little less
informal than expedition gear. The first would be the Captain’s Welcome
Reception, an opportunity to meet the Captain and his very experienced officers,
who maneuver the ship with such skill during the voyage. The daily program,
which is delivered to your cabin each evening, informs you of the next day’s
activities and special events such as this one. Later a three-course dinner with a choice of main courses and a
complimentary glass of wine is served in the dining room. During the after-dinner Welcome Briefing, the Expedition Leader
introduces the team of specialists that accompanies every expedition. The EL
delivers an overview of the voyage, after which the ship’s doctor may provide
practical advice about coping with seasickness. Day 3 to 7
Using onboard Zodiacs or helicopters, you will explore the Chukotka
Peninsula, in Russia’s Far East. Shore landings are conducted by the
Expedition Team, augmented by local specialists, who narrate cultural
demonstrations, such as dancing and traditional games preformed by the
indigenous peoples. As you pass through the remote communities, take note of the
satellite dishes attached to the side of houses, and signs of Internet access.
The people maintain traditional values, while embracing modern conveniences. Day 4 As the icebreaker crosses the Bering Strait into Alaskan waters, you gain
the day you lost crossing the International Date Line. The Expedition Team
conducts a variety of presentations on the life cycle of the wildlife you will
encounter on the pack ice. In the afternoon a film such as the classic Nanook of the North or the recent award-winning Atanarjuat:
The Fast Runner could be shown. Perhaps,
another of our shipboard specialists may speak after the film on subjects such
as the formation of polar ice. The artist-in-residence may introduce you to a style of art known
internationally as Inuit. Hand-crafted in a variety of media, it is the work of
the indigenous peoples of the Arctic. Day 5
Kapitan
Khlebnikov steams through the Beaufort Sea, while the Expedition Team explains the
reason that the World Wildlife Fund has designated this sea an area of
biological and cultural significance. The ornithologist may explain in an
illustrated presentation, the breeding habits of Arctic seabirds, while the
artist-in-residence demonstrates how to capture them with pencil, pen or paint. Day 6
From the deck watch for
beluga and bowhead whales that migrate through the Beaufort en route to breeding
and feeding grounds. Gaze below the surface, where more than 40 Atlantic and
Arctic marine fish species live. The Beaufort is also a significant area for
waterfowl and shorebirds. Throughout the expedition our extremely talented chefs host many themed
dinners, such as the ‘black and white dinner,’ during which fun trumps
formality. These special dinners celebrate many of the different nationalities
represented by your fellow adventurers. Movies will be shown in the
auditorium in the evenings after dinner. Day 7
Herschel Island (Qikiqtaruk
in the local language) is comprised of silt, sand and clay, with a layer of
permafrost. Traces of human habitation date back 1,000 years. Woolly mammoth
once roamed the island, which is located 90km south of the permanent pack ice.
Watch for large ice floes that can often be seen drifting off shore. You will pass through
Canadian Customs and Immigration at Herschel. Day 8 and 9
Inuvialuit (translation:
real people) is the name of the indigenous peoples living in the North from
Alaska to Franklin Bay. They settled in wildlife rich areas, such as Franklin
Bay, where we use the onboard Zodiacs or helicopters to effect shore landings or
for flight-seeing.
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